How Do Wind Turbines Work?

Wind turbines convert wind movement into mechanical energy. Most modern wind turbines are used to create electricity. That is what is referred to as a wind generator. If the mechanical energy is used only for mechanical movement, it is a windmill. The term wind turbine covers both. In the commonly used wind generator, the wind turns the blades, which turn the shaft. The shaft spins in a generator and electromagnetism in the generator produces electricity.

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Wind turbine is the term used to describe the whole apparatus. The generator is the small part within the turbine that actually creates the electricity.Wind generator is sometimes used as a term that describes the whole apparatus as well, when the turbine is used for electricity.

The two terms are almost interchangeable.

The wind is one of the cleanest forms of power that the earth can provide us. Many people often wonder how wind turbines work, and I will try to explain this. Wind power is very plentiful, and it can replace fossil fueled electricity, because the wind reduces any greenhouse gases, it is also a very renewable source of power. The wind is almost always moving if not on the ground for a short period of time, then it is blowing in higher elevations. When you are on the ground you may not feel the wind blow, but if you traveled to a higher level such as in a tall apartment building, and opened a window you could feel it. This is why in some sections of the world wind turbines are relatively tall.

Wind turbines for the home are used to make electricity. The wind turns the blades and the shaft. This shaft has a gear on the end of it, and this gear connects to another geared shaft coming out of the generator; as the wind blows the gears make the generator spin, creating electricity.

There are many types of wind turbines, from gigantic power turbines found on wind farms. These are used on an electrical grid in the mid western United States, and some isolated countries around the world, such as Norway. These wind turbines are in the horizontal-axis designs, and vertical-axis designs, which normally have three blades that operate the turbines in upwinds. They are designed to put out several megawatts of electricity.

There are smaller wind turbines that can discharge below 100 kilowatts. These are designed for homes, and small jobs, such as on a farm to help draw water from a man made or natural lake, which is used to water livestock or to help in irrigation. They can also work with batteries, where the electricity that is produced is stored into batteries and used when it is needed. These smaller turbines are also used in photovoltaic systems to supply electricity to a home. A controller is used to turn the machine on when the wind reaches 8 miles per hour, and turn off when the wind reaches 55 miles an hour to keep from burning up the generator.

Wind turbines have been used in 47 of the 50 states. Small wind turbines require at least 8 mph winds, and a home owner should be in a place where there is at least a 10 mph wind. There are some wind turbines that are small enough they can fit on the roof of a house, however, you should check into this if you have considered purchasing one. There are regulations that should be followed, and you would have to be approved by the state.